.jpg) Satellite image of Pamilacan Island | |
.svg)  Pamilacan Location within the Philippines | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bohol Sea |
| Coordinates | 9°29′35″N123°55′26″E / 9.493°N 123.924°E /9.493; 123.924 |
| Area | 1.75 km2 (0.68 sq mi)[a] |
| Length | 1.6 km (0.99 mi)[b] |
| Width | 1.25 km (0.777 mi)[c] |
| Coastline | 4.50 km (2.796 mi)[a] |
| Administration | |
| Region | Central Visayas |
| Province | Bohol |
| Municipality | Baclayon |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,418 (2015)[1] |
| Pop. density | 810/km2 (2100/sq mi) |
Pamilacan is an islandbarangay in the Philippines, situated 12.5 kilometres (7.8 mi) south ofBohol island and surrounded by theBohol Sea (also called Mindanao Sea). It is one of the 17 barangays that compose the municipality ofBaclayon. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 1,418,[2] comprising about 240 families whose main livelihoods now concentrate on dolphin- andwhale-watching tours and subsistence fishing, but in the past also included whale, dolphin and manta ray hunting.
Pamilacan perhaps means "resting place of the mantas", but it can also be considered to derive from the wordpamilac, or harpoon, a device that was historically used to capture the mantas, dolphins and whales.[3]
On the northeast part of the island is a 200‑year‑old Spanish fort, which in the past served as awatchtower for the Spaniards to look out for intruders, such as pirates and other enemies, particularly those coming from the south. Along with the other watchtowers inDauis,Panglao,Maribojoc,Loay andBalilihan, the island's watchtower was declared by theNational Museum of the Philippines as a National Cultural Treasure under the collective group ofBohol Watchtowers on August 29, 2011[4][3]
Aside from being famous for the whaleshark and dolphin-watching activities, the island is also known for its white sand beaches and renowned for its snorkeling and dive sites, such as Dakit-Dakit.Snake Island orCervera Shoal is a sunken plateau about 18 metres (59 ft) deep, to the west of Pamilacan. It is covered with coral but lies in the middle of the ocean, which is why there usually is a very strong current. Here one can see black-white bandedsea snakes,sea turtles,moray eels,nudibranchs andbucket sponges.[5]: 93